Electrode holder



May 14? 1940. P. BOURQUE 2,200,947

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed June 20, 1938 lii / mama@ BY l ATTORNE Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 2'0,

11 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an electrode holder and has for its object the provision of an electrode holder which will be simple in structure, economical of 5 manufacture, durable, highly eihcient in use, compact and light. i v

Another object of the invention is the provision oiv an electrode holder having a pair of jaw-forming plates projecting outwardly from a l semi-circular shank formed integral therewith so that when the jaws are placed in cooperative relation in registration with each other, the semicircular shank portions will form a cylindrical sleeve in which the end of the cable may be il secured.

Another object of the invention i's the provision in an electrode holder of a pair of jaw-forming plates-having at their ends a semi-circular shank and provided with a retainer adapted for embrac- '90 ing said shank portions and retaining the same together to provide a hollow sleeve.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an electrode holder of a pair of super-imposed Jaw-forming members provided with a cam mechz anism for spreading the same apart and having a resilient member for engaging lthe cam handle for preventing rattling of the same when the jawsv areispread apart.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and varrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be 'reference to the accompanying drawingv which forms apart of this specification, and in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of the'invention with parts shown in side eleva- 'tion.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 .1o-of FIB. 1. Fis, 3 is a .sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line I-l oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a slightly modiiied form. of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken on line 6-8 ofl Fig. 5. y Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, central, longitudinal,

sectional, view of a modified form of the invention.

As shown inthe drawing, l? provide a hollow or tubular insulating handle 9-. A pair oi elongated plates I0 and II are-provided, formed from best understood byl ar 1938, Serial No. 214,739

suitable resilient material, and projecting outwardly from the blocks I2 and I3, respectively, which terminate in semi-circular extensions .Il and I5, respectively. These senil-circular extensions or shank portions form, together with each other, a tubular sleeve internally threaded as .clearly shown in Fig. 1. Axially extending, pe-

ripherally projecting, spaced ribs I6 engage the inner surface of the tubular handle 9 so that there are channels or air spacesl'l between the m inner face ofthe handle 9 and the periphery of these tubular extensions I4 and I5 thus permitting a circulation of air around the sleeve-forming portions I4 and I5 to prevent excessive heating of the insulating handle 9.

Formed on the inner face of the jaw-forming plates I0 and II are oppositely disposed recesses I3 and I9, respectively, in which engages the crossbar 20 of a stirrup which embraces the jaw I I and projecting centrally outwardly from which, ani gularly thereto, is the rod 2| which is'covered by a tubular gripping member 22 formed from insulating material and which projects beyond the end of the rod 2| and which is provided with the portions 23 and 24 which overlie the legs 25 and 26 of the stirrup for insulating these parts against contact with metal parts. A chair 21 formed from a hat leaf spring is positioned between the face of the jaw II and the inner surface of the top 28 of the stirrup so that when y) the jaws I0 and II are sprung apart and a strip of welding wire gripped therebetween, the spring `chair will serve to prevent rattling of the stirrup.:R

By rocking downwardly on the member 22, the crossbar 20 of the stirrup will serve to spread y the jaws I0 and Il apart suillciently to permit the insertion of a welding wire therebetween. Plates 29 and 39 of insulating material are secured tothe jaws III and II to cover the outer faces thereof. Q

Avmetallic ring 3i embraces the parts I2 and I3 to retain the portions I4 and I5 in engagement with each other to form a tubular extension or sleeve. This metallic ring is pressed on the parts I2 and I3 by a press iltand carries the shield plate 32 of insulating material, the upper edge of which is cut away as at 33 to provide the necessary clearance for the extension 22. This shield plate 32 embraces the ring 3i and is secured thereto by the screw 3l.

The electric cable 35 is ledfinto the rear end of the handle 9 and the bared portion 36 is spread at its ends to provide the pocket 31 into which the conical projection 33 extends, this projection being loosely positioned in the sleeve f' cient in use.

formed by the portions is and is. a am aus as is threaded into the portions M and t5 to press and loci; the cable against the conical spreader 39 thus making a secure contact and connection between the cable and the jaws.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the jam nut 3@ is eliminated as well as the internal threading of the sleeves and the cable is secured in position by means of solder 4B.

In this form I have eliminated the ribs iii and I have provided an embracing ring di which is secured in position by the set screw l2 and which carries the shield plate 32. This ring @il is formed with a conical bore and the periphery ot the extensions Id and I5' also taper so that, in assembling, the jaws are thrust through the ring Sli and the operating handle mounted in position after the ring 4i is in position. By forcing the ring il rearwardlyon the parts lli' and l5', a binding of this ring is eiected. The shield plate 32' is mounted in position as shown in Fig. 5 and a screw 42 serves to prevent undue axial movement of the ring fil on the parts it' and lbf.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated a further moculed form of the invention in which the parts it" and l5", which form extensions on the jaws iii and I l, are secured together by means of a screw 6U which is projected through an opening in the head i3" and threaded into the head l2, the extensions I4 and l5 being internally threaded for the reception of a jam nut 39 which serves to force the bared end 36 of the cable V35 into close contact with the conical spreader 3B.

In all of the forms illustrated, there is provided a cavity-forming portion open at its rear end for the reception of an end of the cable, while separate resilient jaws are connected to and project forwardly from the forward end of the cavity-forming portion.

With an electrode holder constructed in this manner, a light, durable, compact and economical device is provided which is also highly eii- It will be noted that the tubular construction which results from the cooperating extensions i4 and I5 or M and i5' or I4" and i5" is formed integral with the jaws between which the wire is clamped. It will also be noted that there is a close contact between the cable and the metallic parts which are integral with the jaws thus assuring of a proper and most eificient connection.

In Fig, l I have shown the jaws lll and li provided adjacent their butt or rear ends with slots 50 and 5l. respectively, for the reception of a bolt 5l'.4 By threading the nut tightly on the bolt, the jaws may be clamped together at this point and it will be noted that the jaws begin a spreading or separation proceeding from adjacent their butt ends. Consequently, by moving the bolt 52 forwardly or rearwardly. or bya pair of registering jaws adapted for being sprung apart; a rockable member extending between said jaws and adapted upon rocking move ment for springing the same apart; and a spring engaging one oi said jaws and engaging said rockable member for normally resisting movement of said rockable member relatively to said jaw.

2. In an electrode holder of the class described:

a pair of jaws in registering relation adapted 'for being sprungapart; a stirrup embracing one of said jaws and having a portion lying between said jaws and adapted, upon rocking movement of said portion, for springing said jaws apart;`

and a spring lying between the outer face of one of said jaws and said stirrup and engaging the same for normally resisting relative move ment of said stirrup and said jaw.

3. In an electrode holder of the class described: a pair of jaws in registering relation with each other and adapted for being sprung apart; a stirrup embracing one of said jaws and having a portion lying between said jaws, the rocking of vsaid portion eecting la spreading apart of said stirrup embracing one of said jaws and having a portion lying between said jaws, the rocking or" said portion effecting a spreading apart of said jaws; a substantially U-shaped spring having the legs flared outwardly positioned between the outer face of one of said jaws and said stirrup and engaging said stirrup and said outer face and adapted for normally resisting relative movement oi said stirrup and said jaw; and adapted, upon relative movement of said stirrup and said jaw for moving longitudinally of said body in unison with a portion of said stirrup.

5. In an electrode holder of the class described having a pair of superimposed registering jaws engaging each other at their opposite ends and bowed intermediate their ends, said jaws having registering elongated longitudinally extending slots; and a bolt engaging in said slot and adapted upon longitudinal movement relatively to said jaws for adjusting the tension thereof.

6. In an electrode holder of the class described: a pair of jaws adapted for being superimposed in registering relation; a concave extension on one end or" each of said jaws, said extensions being adapted for, upon the superimposing of said jaws in registering relation, registering with each other and forming a tubular portion, said tubular portion being internally threaded and adapted for 'the reception of one end of a cable; a jam nut having a passage formed therethrough threadable into said tubular portion for secure ing one end of a cable in position therein; and means in said tubular portion for spreading said end of said cable apart, said jam nut clamping the spread apart end of said cable against said spreading means.

7. An electrode holder of the class described, comprising: a pair of jaws in registering relation adapted for being sprung apart; a stirrup embracing one of said jaws and having a portion lying between said jaws and adapted, upon rocking movement of said portion, for springing said jaws apart; and a spring lying between the outer face of said embraced jaw and said stirrup, and engaging said face and said stirrup for normally resistinga relative approach of the same,

and movable longitudinally of said face in unison with said stirrup upon a rocking of said portion of said stirrup lying between said jaws.

8. In an electrode holder of the class described, a pair of blocks adapted for being positioned in superimposed relation to each other and in engagement with one of the faces thereof, the

'anterior portion of each of said blocks at said i gagement with one of the faces thereof, the anterior portion of each of said blocks at said face being formed concave to provide a tubular body; an elongated jaw-forming plate projecting forwardly from each of said blocks and over-lying each other in superimposed relation, said jaws having registering elongated longitudinally directed slots formed therein; and a securing member projected through said slots for clamping said jaws together and maintaining said blocks in relative engagement. said jaws forwardly of said slots being formed arcuate, and the position of said securing member in said slots adjusting the tension of said jaws.

10. In an electrode holder of the class described. a pair of blocks adapted for being positioned in superimposed relation to each other and in engagement with each other at the opposed faces thereof; an elongated jaw forming plate projecting forwardly from each of said blocks and overlying each other in superimposed relation, said jaws having registering openings formed therein forwardly of s aid blocks, said jaws forwardly from said 'openings being formed arcuate; and a securing member projected through said openings ior' securing said jaws together and maintaining said blocks in relative engagement and adapted for adjusting the tension of said jaws.

1l. An electrode holder of the class described, comprising: a cavity-forming portion open at its rear end for the reception of an end of an electric cable; a pair of elongated resilient jaw-forming plates connected to and projecting forwardly from the forward end of said cavity-forming portion and overlying each other in super-imposed relation, said jaws, forwardly of said cavity-"forming portion, being formed arcuate and provided, in said arcuate portion, forwardly of said cavityforming portion, with registering openings; a rockable member extending between said jaws forwardly of said openings and adapted, upon rocking movement in one direction, for springing said jaws apart; and a securing member projected through said openings for securing said jaws together and adjusting the tension of said jaws.

PHILIP BOURQUE. 

